Page 8 - AsiaElec Week 48 2021

AsiaElec COAL AsiaElec

South Korea to close up to 16 coal

power plants during winter

SOUTH KOREA SOUTH Korea is to close temporarily 16 coal- is projected at 90.3 GW in the coming winter
fired power plants this winter in an effort to season, which can further increase to 93.5 GW if
reduce air pollution. the country suffers a cold snap, up from 87.6 GW
The energy ministry said it would close 16 out to 90.4 GW last year.
of 53 plants nationwide for three months from The country’s electricity supply is expected
December, while all the other coal power plants to meet demand with a power surplus of more
will operate at no higher than 80% capacity for than 10 GW from December through February
the same period. despite the shutdown of the coal-fired power
“A total of 8 to 16 coal-fired power plants plants as the country can supply over 110.2 GW,
will be offline from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 as part of up from 103.3 GW last year.
efforts to reduce fine dust emissions in the win- “The coal power plant closure for the next
ter period,” the Ministry of Trade, Industry and three months is expected to reduce the country’s
Energy said in a statement. coal-related fine dust emissions by 52.5%, or
“The scope of the shutdown — from 8 to 16 2,838mn tonnes, compared with without such
–- will be determined on the basis of electricity restrictions,” the ministry statement said.
demand over the peak winter season, and LNG The ministry official said the country will
prices and supply conditions,” a ministry official be ready to raise the operating ratio of natural
said. gas-fired power plants to avoid electricity supply
The announcement comes after South disruptions, which can boost the country’s LNG
Korean President Moon Jae told the October demand and imports.
G7 summit that South Korea aimed to end coal- If necessary, the country will supply an addi-
fired power generation by 2050. tional 9.7-13.5 GW mainly from LNG-based
He said that the target date was in line with plants, according to the official.
South Korea’s already declared intention of The country’s LNG import is expected to
reaching net zero by 2050. climb as the government has lowered import
The plans, which cover 30.2% of total coal tariffs on LNG to zero from 2%-3%, currently,
capacity, compare with the closure of 9-16 plants for six months from Nov. 12 to April 30.
in 2020-21 and 8-15 in 2019-20. The government levies a 3% tariff on LNG
The government has permanently closed imported during the peak winter season from
seven coal-fired power plants for the past two October to March, and 2% during the rest of the
years as part of President Moon Jae-in’s push year.
to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on coal In October, the South Korea government
in power generation and address worsening air said it would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
pollution. emissions by 40% of 2018 levels by 2030, sharply
The MOTIE refused to provide a list of the raising its previous goal as part of efforts to curb
coal power plants to be shut, but the ministry the pace of climate change. The country also con-
official said aged, more polluting plants will be firmed that it would achieve carbon neutrality
the first to be taken offline. by 2050 while also pursuing sustainable growth.
“The government will try to idle coal power At COP26, South Korea also joined the global
plants, as many as possible, on the condition of pact to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030.™
stable electricity supply,” the official said.
South Korea’s winter peak electricity demand

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 48 01•December•2021